This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
On November 24, 2019, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission announced a significant reduction in the water hyacinth infestation on Lake Victoria. The waters of the lake have remained clear with only little traces of the stubborn weed, which is slowly being eradicated.
Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Ali Matano revealed that the coverage of the weed across the three East African counties bordering Lake Victoria had dropped to about 10,000 hectares since the invasion first occurred in the 1990s. This is a drastic reduction from the 30,000 hectares of the lake that the weed covered about 30 years ago, as stated by Mr. Matano.
Earlier this year, the water hyacinth rendered Kisumu Port unusable, with several steamers and boats marooned at the port. However, with the decline in the infestation, the port is now operational. Dr. Christopher Aura, a director at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, emphasized the need for further surveys to ascertain the present status of the weed.
“Given that the lake appears clear, a practical research should be done to help ascertain the present status of the weed,” said Dr. Aura.
